spring/summer 2007 update

(most of you have received the word version of this, but in case someone hasn't read it...)


The Morrison’s Update
Calvary Chapel, Svitlovodsk, Ukraine

“God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ.” –I Cor. 1:9

Our Trip to America
It has been a LONG time since we put out a newsletter.  In the middle of February we took a trip to the states for a couple months to see family, friends and share with others what the Lord is doing here in Svitlovodsk.  We were able to visit almost all of my family.  They all got to see Abby for the first time (except my sister who came here and saw her before that). We are so thankful for how the Lord used many of you to bless us during our stay: sharing your homes, meals, gifts, and plain, sweet fellowship.  As a special treat, Lena even had her first opportunity ever to ride a horse!  She was a bit scared so she was given a horse that was old and slow, but she loved it anyway.  We enjoyed the time stateside, but at the same time we were reminded that the Lord has truly called us to be here in Ukraine and we are very happy to be back.  The place the Lord has called you is always the greatest place to be!

 

The National CC Conference
Every spring just outside Kiev all the Calvary Chapels in Ukraine have a huge conference for 4 days of worship, fellowship and studying God’s Word together.  Last year we had a total of 4 come: ourselves, and our teammates the Navarro’s.  This May we had 19 people from our church attend the conference (not including infants).  It was the first time for all except our ministry team and everyone is already planning to go next year!  It truly was a special time and we are still seeing the fruit of the things the Lord did in people’s hearts while there.  We especially saw Yura get on fire for the Lord during that time (next to me in group photo).  One thing that was emphasized was growing a passion for missions in Ukrainians, and we’ve seen the Lord doing that in people in our body, too.  At the baptism 3 people from our group got baptized (Katya pictured below).  It’s always so beautiful to see people desiring to offer themselves to the Lord through this step of faith.  Thanks to those who helped cover the cost of the conference for our church!

 

Calvary Chapel Svitlovodsk at the National Conference (minus Oleg who was still packing! ☺)

Outreach
In the beginning of June, we had the drama team from CC Kharkov (pictured below) come to do street outreach.  Although they were only here for less than 48 hours, we had a very full and fruitful time doing street outreaches in 3 different regions of our city plus in one of the orphanages we go to regularly.  People in our city seem to be still very open to the gospel on the whole and a number of people prayed to get saved.  Pray they get plugged in to a good church!  We are planning to have a team from CC Zaporozhye come in late August to do some children’s festivals.  We love having groups from other cities here come because it gets the work of the ministry into the hands of Ukrainians.  In addition to the teams coming, our church is continuing to minister to the orphans this summer.  During the summer we have some 400+ orphans come stay in our city from the whole “oblast’” (what you’d think of as a state).  It is a great opportunity to reach kids that normally would be in all kinds of little villages we could never get to.  We’re doing street witnessing as well and have had some really fruitful conversations.  Pray for these people to surrender to Jesus.

Family
Abby is getting to be a lot of fun.  When Abby was 3 months old we thought all our friends that told us how much fun it is having kids were lying… turns out they just have selective memory. ☺  She is already saying “Daddy”, waving good-bye, and when you ask her “what does the lion say?” she roars, and also has recently taken her first steps.  She is a little bit underweight as of her last checkup, so please pray that she’d start eating better.  And pray for us to be filled daily with the Lord’s tender love for one another, that we would glorify Him in our family and be an example for others here.

May Jesus’ ever-generous and abundant love fill your hearts with worship!

Pray for:
- Daily filling of the Holy Spirit, for our church to walk in love and humility towards one another as we enjoy Jesus’ love for us.
- Open hearts and much fruit as we reach out to our community with the good news!
- For the orphans to know their true Father
- For unity of vision in following the Lord’s calling for our body
- For God to raise up servants in the body (and praise for how many are serving already!)
- God to bring back the wandering sheep
- For those who’ve received the Lord recently to get into fellowship and the Word
- The Lord’s protection and anointing on those who are leaving to study at college (6 young ladies from our fellowship)
- Provision of a facility to meet in (the apt. is crowded!)
- Health for our family (especially Abby) and hearts of servanthood towards one another.

In our Papa,

Benjamin, Lena and Abigail Morrison

Financial Support info:
if the Lord has put it on your heart to financially partner with us, you can make donations to:

Horizon Ministries (leave memo line on checks blank) and send to:

Horizon Ministries
7702 Indian Lake rd.
Indianapolis, IN 46236

with a note enclosed that the donation is for Ben and Lena Morrison (all donations are tax-deductible and 100% goes to us).

 

little miracles

just thought i'd post a few pictures of our sweet little abby.  today she took her first steps on her own without holding on to anything.  she really is so much fun now.  the first three or four months were all about learning to die to yourself... screaming, pooping, no sleeping, more screaming... but she is definitely worth it.  imagine all that the Lord puts up with from us as we grow in Him, but thankfully He is full of mercy and longsuffering.  

in the picture also are david navarro (left) and caleb hoff (right).  wes and wendy came out last week to hang out with us and we went to the beach a few times.  we had an awesome time with them (despite both babies simultaneously having the runs and generally feeling not so hot) and we are blessed to have such good friends.  

i'll get around to a real post soon.  its too late now.  some people from our church went out street-witnessing this evening.  we had a lot of good conversations and some people who were very open and said that they wanted to receive the gift of salvation.  they said they would pray on their own later rather than with us.  please pray for these peole, especially rita who was very open and said that she would like to come to our fellowship (however her dad is orthodox and doesn't allow her to go to any other church but his).  pray that the joyful news would truly sink into their hearts and bring them new life.

and here i held out for so long.....

well, i guess it had to happen sometime.  kinda like having a cell phone.  i held out till maybe 4 years ago.... or even less.  we figured this would be a good way to put out more frequent updates without the pressure of putting together "a newsletter".  just to keep in the know those who want to be there.  not that the blog will be only about the ministry here in svitlovodsk.... i think it will just be about our lives, and life is all about JESUS.  so i guess you know what this blog is gonna be about, now don't you?   well, i suppose i'll leave it at this for now and get around to a real post later.

OH!  but i almost forgot to mention:  today one of lena's childhood acquaintances (one year younger that she is) came to church and ended up receiving Jesus into her heart.  her name is Yulia, so please pray for her.  she was really interested and had a lot of spiritual questions and after a lot of conversation realized that she needed a new life and that Jesus by His grace offers her just that.  very cool.  so pray for her to be rooted in grace, the Word in the sweet love of God.  thanks!